And know how well I have deserv'd the ring,
She would not hold out enmity for ever,
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

[Exit with Nerissa.
Anth. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring,
Let his deservings, and my love withal,
Be valu'd 'gainst your wife's commandment.

Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him. Give him the ring : and bring him if thou canst, Unto Anthonio's house; away, make haste.

[Exit. Gra. Come, you and I will thither, presently ; And in the morning early will we both Fly towards Belmont; come, Anthonio. [Exeuut.

SCENE,—a Street. * Re-enter Portia and Nerissa. Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this And let him sign it; we'll away, to night, [deed, And be a day before our husbands home : This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo

Enter GRATIANO.
Gra. Fair gir, you are well o'er-ta'en:
My lord Bassanio, upon more advice,
Hath sent you here this ring, and doth intreat
Your company at dinner.

Por. That cannot be..

This ring do I accept, most thankfully,
And, so, I pray you, tell him ; furthermore,
I pray you shew my youth old Shylock's house.
Gra. That will I do.

Ner. Sir, I would speak with you.
I'll see if I can get my husband's ring : [T. Por.
Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.
Por. Thou may’st, I warrant. We shall have

old swearing, That they did give their rings away to men; But we'll out-face them, and out-swear them, too, Away, make haste, thou knowest where I will turry. Ner. Come, good sir, will you shew me to this house?

[Exeunt.

ACT v.

REN

ESSICA

Enter Lorenzo and Jessica.
Lor. The moon shines bright.-In such a night

as this,
When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees,
And they did make no noise ; in such a night,
Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan wall,
And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents,
Where Cressid lay, that night..

Jes. In such a night,

Did Thisbe fearfully o’er trip the dew ;
And saw the lion's shadow ere himself,
And ran dismayed away.

Lor. In such a night,
Stood Dido with a willow in her hand,
Upon the wild sea banks, and wav'd her love
To come again to Carthage

Jes. In such a night,
Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs,
That did renew old son.

Lor. In such a night,
Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew,
And with an unthrift love did run from Venice,
As far as Belmont.

Jes. And in such a night,
Did young Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well;
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,
And ne'er a true one.

Lor. And in such a night,
Did pretty Jessica, (like a little shrew,)
Slander her love, and he forgave it her.

Jes. I would out-night you, did nobody come; But, hark, I hear the footing of a man.

Enter BALTHAZAR. Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night Bal. A friend.

[friend? Lor. What friend? Your name, I pray you, Bal. Balthazar is my name, and I bring word,

My mistress will, before the break of day,
Be here at Belmont. She doth stray about,
By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays,
For happy wedlock hours.

Lor. Who comes with her ?

Bal. None but a holy hermit and her maid I pray you is my master yet returned ?

Lor. He is not, nor have we yet heard from him. But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica, And ceremoniously let us prepare Some welcome for the mistress of the house,

Enter LAUNCELOT,
Laun. Sola, sola, wo, ha, ho, sola, sola!
Lor. Who calls ?

Laun. Sola, did you see master Lorenzo and mistress Lorenzo ? sola, sola !

Lor. Leave hallooing, man: here,
Laun. Sola! Where? where?
Lor. Here.

Laun. Tell him, there's a post come from my master, with his horn full of good news. My master will be here ere morning. [coming.

Lor. Sweet love, let's in, and there expect their And yet no matter. Why should we go in ? My friend Balthazar, signify, I pray you, Within the house, your mistress is at hand;

[Erit. Bal.

And bring your music forth into the air.
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank !
Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music,
Creep in our ears ; soft stillness, and the night,
Become the touches of sweet harmony,
Sit, Jessica: look how the floor of Heav'n
Is thick inlay'd with patterns of bright gold.
There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'st,
But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still choiring to the young-ey'd cherubimş ;
Such harmony is in immortal sounds !
But whilst this musty vesture of decay,
Doth grossly close us in, we cannot hear it.
Come, hoa, and wake Diana with a hymn;
With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear,
And draw her home with music.

Jes. I'm never merry, when I hear sweet music.

Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive; For do but note a wild and wanton herd, Or race of youthful and unhạndled colts, Fetching mad bounds, hellowing, and neighing (Which is the hot condition of their blood:) [loud, If they perchance but hear a trumpet sound, Or any air of music touch their ears, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand; . Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze, By the sweet power of music. Therefore, the poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and

floods ;

leve